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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

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CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan is encouraging members to roll up their sleeves as the Emergency Services Blood Drive enters its final days.

Source: Airservices Australia

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Source: Ministers for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is supporting a first-of-its-kind dynamic charging technology to reduce emissions in the Australian mining sector with a $9 million grant to BluVein.

The funding will allow BluVein to trial its “hammer and rail” dynamic charging technology designed for heavy haulage battery electric mining vehicles, which will facilitate safe electric powering and charging in motion.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said BluVein aims to prove what innovative technology can offer Australia’s most energy intensive industries.

“Australia’s heavy industries are a major source of emissions and energy use. If we’re serious about hitting our climate targets, we need bold solutions,” Mr Miller said.

“BluVein’s innovative hammer and rail technology could offer a solution for Australia’s reliance on billions of litres of diesel fuel by using renewable energy delivered through the grid to power mining haul trucks.”

BluVein will first develop and trial a 40-60 tonne prototype truck integrated with BluVein’s charging technology (BluVein1, approximately 1MW), for underground mining use, before extending the development of its technology to use for ultra-class heavy surface haulage trucking, with the BluVeinXL hammer and rail (approximately 8MW).

This scalable system reduces mining emissions, enhances worker safety through its protected rail design and adapts to any mine layout, optimising efficiency and productivity across diverse mining environments.

Cleaning up mining and processing are critical steps in decarbonising the renewable energy supply chain. By reducing the reliance on diesel and electrifying machinery and site operations, mining can significantly contribute to producing low-emission metals and diversifying supply chains globally.

BluVein CEO James Oliver said BluVein is thrilled to receive ARENA’s $9 million grant to trial its innovative hammer and rail dynamic charging technology for heavy mining vehicles.

“This project, supported by ARENA, will demonstrate how BluVein1 and BluVeinXL can decarbonise Australia’s mining sector by enabling safe, in-motion electrification. By reducing diesel reliance, we aim to lower emissions and enhance operational efficiency, paving the way for sustainable mining practices.”

“This project will drive critical advancements in low-emission metals production, benefiting Australia’s economy and environment.”

Round 2 of ARENA’s Industrial Transformation Stream Program is now closed to new applications, with Round 3 expected to open in Q4 2025.
In the interim, proponents can still make enquires about potential projects by visiting the funding page.

ARENA media contact:

media@arena.gov.au

Download this media release (PDF 135KB)

Source: Mental Health Australia

New bridges are being built, some timber bridges are being replaced with culverts, and multiple causeways are receiving treatments as part of a multimillion-dollar program in the Tweed to improve resilience against flooding.

Full release available here (PDF, 167.33 KB)

Source: Australian Green Party

​​A NSW Health investigation into the potential health risks of dust exposure from the Cadia gold mine in Central West NSW has found low community exposure to heavy metals, and no definitive evidence of health impacts from heavy metal exposure among volunteers who were assessed. 
NSW Health commissioned an independent investigation and convened the Cadia Mine Expert Health Advisory Panel following community concern about potential dust exposure from the Cadia gold mine. The Panel consisted of expertise in toxicology, environmental and public health. 
The Cadia Mine Expert Health Advisory Panel reviewed results from this investigation and reported they found no evidence of significant environmental contamination at volunteers’ properties. The heavy metal levels were below health-based guidelines and there was no evidence of health impacts from heavy metal exposure in the volunteers. 
The Cadia Mine Expert Health Advisory Panel also concluded that there was no indication that broader community testing is required at this time.
NSW Health thanks the 14 volunteers from seven properties, who came forward through the Cadia Community Sustainability Network, for participating in this important investigation.
The 18-month investigation saw indoor dust, water, soil samples and home-grown produce collected from volunteers’ potentially impacted properties to be examined for possible exposures.
An expert clinical toxicologist assessed each volunteer to determine if they were impacted by heavy metals, and all household environmental and clinical assessments were reviewed by the Cadia Mine Expert Health Advisory Panel. 
NSW Health can advise that every volunteer has been informed about the assessment outcomes, and the panel’s findings are being shared directly with the community, local General Practitioners, stakeholder groups, and local councils. 
NSW Health will continue to provide advice and support to local GPs in the region surrounding Cadia. 
NSW Health will continue to work closely with the NSW Environment Protection Authority, which is leading regulatory oversight of dust emissions at the Cadia mine.
Further information, including the panel’s statement and a summary report are available.
View the statement and report

Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

The ACCC has outlined its preliminary competition concerns with MicroStar’s proposed acquisition of the assets of Konvoy, which is currently in administration and receivership, in a Statement of Issues today.

MicroStar and Konvoy both supply keg pooling services to brewers across Australia. These services enable brewers to rent kegs from a shared pool on a short-term basis to supply alcoholic beverages to their customers. MicroStar and Konvoy also supply key leasing services. MicroStar operates under the name Kegstar in Australia.

“The proposed acquisition would combine the only two providers of keg pooling services in Australia,” ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said.

“Many craft breweries appear to be reliant on keg pooling services to supply pubs and bars beyond local areas, and they are likely to have neither the ability nor the incentive to invest to self-supply and manage a fleet of kegs”.

Market feedback received by the ACCC indicated that alternatives to keg pooling services, such as key leasing or ownership, are not a close substitute and other businesses are not likely to start supplying keg pooling services in competition.

“Our preliminary view is that the proposed acquisition is likely to substantially lessen competition in the supply of keg pooling services in Australia,” Dr Williams said.

The ACCC invites submissions from interested parties in response to the Statement of Issues by 28 August 2025.

More information, including the Statement of Issues, can be found on the ACCC’s website at MicroStar – Proposed Acquisition of Konvoy.

Note to editors

Keg Pooling Services

Keg pooling is a model which enables brewers to rent kegs from a shared pool of kegs on a short-term basis. Customers can order and subsequently fill empty kegs from these providers for a fee. As is the case for brewers who use their own fleets of kegs, customers are responsible for transporting these kegs to licensed venues.

Because these kegs are part of a larger pool of kegs and are not owned by individual breweries, they can all be returned to the keg pooling service rather than needing to be collected by the customer.

Section 50

In considering the proposed acquisition, the ACCC applies the legal test set out in section 50 of the Competition and Consumer Act.

In general terms, section 50 prohibits acquisitions that would have the effect, or be likely to have the effect, of substantially lessening competition in any market.

Section 50 applies even in circumstances where one of the parties is in administration and/or receivership.

Background

MicroStar is a keg services company incorporated in the United States and has operations in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. It entered the Australian market in 2021 via the acquisition of the Kegstar business from Brambles Limited.

Kegstar was founded by Adam Trippe-Smith and entered the market in 2012 offering keg leasing services. Kegstar was subsequently acquired by Brambles Limited in 2015, and then acquired from Brambles Limited by MicroStar in 2021.

After leaving Kegstar, Adam Trippe-Smith founded Konvoy in 2019, which offered keg pooling services. Soon after Konvoy’s entry, Kegstar also started to offer keg pooling services.

Konvoy is currently in voluntary administration and receivers undertook a sales process in which MicroStar was successful. On 11 March 2025, FTI Consulting and McGrathNicol were appointed, administrators and receivers of Konvoy respectively.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia

Generative AI to augment and advance the way we work in Australia

Linda

Thu, 2025-08-14 10:03

Source: Premier of Victoria

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CFA recently celebrated one of its members reaching an impressive 80 years of service.